Note: Static and hiss as on original tapes. The recorder is stopped multiple times throughout interview.
Transcript available at California State University, Sacramento University Library. Description: Kibei female was born in Sacramento, California June 22, 1914 to parents who worked on large farms. Lily was sent to Japan during her parents divorce and lived with an aunt from 1920 to 1925 when she was sent to Hollywood, California to live with her father and new stepmother who considered Lily a burden and annoyance. When Lily was in the 10th grade her father died and stepmother returned to Japan. An aunt took Lily into her care in San Francisco. In 1933, at the age of nine, Lily married Masao Mike Umeda in an arranged marriage. They lived in Florin with Mike"s parents on a farm. According to tradition, the mother-in-law took no part in duties of the home. Lily bore the full burden of housework, laundry, cooking and childcare. Life was complicated by Lily having to walk two miles between the Umeda"s two farms to perform farm labor. In May 1942, when Lily was twenty-eight the Umedas were sent to Fresno Assembly Center, then to Jerome, Arkansas. Mike explains how Florin was divided into four zones by the government and residents in the zones assigned to different camps. Mike leased the farm to the Florin Fruit Growers Association. Agreements been the Association and farmers were not kept during internment and many farmers lost their farms to foreclosure. Mike was among the first to return to Florin on January 6, 1945. The community atmosphere was dire; two homes had burned down and racial intimidation was strong. Fortunately, Mike stored belongings in a government warehouse and safely retrieved everything. Despite Lily"s harsh and difficult life and, despite the interruption of internment, the Umedas re-directed their lives and persevered to keep the family together at all costs and still participate in community activities. Source: 2 Tapes of 2: 1/8 inch audio cassette Call Number: TC333 Rights: Copyright status unknown. This work may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, its reproduction may be restricted by terms of gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. This work is accessible for purposes of education and research. Transmission or reproduction of works protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. California State University, Sacramento Library attempted to find rights owners without success but is eager to hear from them so that we may obtain permission, if needed. Upon request to info@csus.edu digitized works can be removed from public view if there are rights issues that need to be resolved. Digitized by the California Audiovisual Preservation Project (CAVPP).

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